I am attempting to translate my greatgrandfather's 1873 Birth Certificate. The

02/24/2024 - 09:51

I am attempting to translate my greatgrandfather's 1873 Birth Certificate. The two highlighted words in the image below are confusing me. My translation is:

"...Commune Circondario di Santangelo Lombardi , Provinca di Principato Ultra, è conparso Luigi Siano di Amato Maria, di anni ventotto, Pipemiere, domiciliato a Nusco..."

"...district of Circondario in the commune of Santangelo Lombardy in the province of Principato Ultra, appeared Luigi Siano son of Amato Maria age 28 a pipemaker living in Nusco..."

I cannot not find any references to a commune/district of Circondario. Is that a commune or a street or did I misspell the word?

Also I cannot not find any references to a profession called Pipemiere. Again I ask did I misspell the word, or can you explain what it means?

Thank you for any help you can provide.

Albert DiCaprio

Topic

Italian Language

Location

Nusco

Comment

I found .....

circondario di Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi era uno dei tre circondari in cui era suddivisa la provincia di Avellino, esistito dal 1861 al 1926.

..The District of Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi He was one of the three. Surroundings In which the Avellino Province, existed from the 1861 the 1926.

On ....https://it.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circondario_di_Sant%27Angelo_dei_Lombar…

Hope it helpd

A circondaria is an old term for a district. So Italy is divided into 'Regioni' (eg Campagna), within each region are the 'province' (Avellino), within each province are a number of 'comune' (Sant'Angelo Lombardi) which has a central admin centre and perhaps a number of circondarie or districts but also villages or hamlets called 'frazione'. Avellino and Benevento are beautiful 'province' for Roman and Greek history and spectacular scenery rather than manicured pretty villages (blame poor economics and earthquakes) much under rated. Too often people think that only Naples and Amalfi coast exist in Campagna.

Dear Tony,

Thank you for your informative response. It has helped me a lot in understanding the many changes that were occuring in the area of my family. So far I am focused on the city of Nusco where my maternal family (the Siano's and the Pepe's) came from.

I hope to expand my research into my paternal family (DiCaprio's and Iannucci's) who came from Benevento (Sant'Angelo di Goti).

Cordially,

Albert DiCaprio

Do you mean Sant'Agata dei Goti? Nice place. Last time I was there it was festooned in USA flags to welcome New York mayor Bill de Blasio whose family came from the place.

No idea what is a pipemiere.

Tony,

Thank you for noticing my mistake. Yes I did mean Sant'Agata de Goti.

Is there two parts of Snat'Agata, one part on a mountain and another in a valley? I seem to recall that my grandfather said he was from Sant'Agata but his family came from a poor section of farmers at the base of a mountain or hill.

Respectfully,

Albert DiCaprio

Sant'Agata is typical of many ancient settlements. There is the bit on raised or defensive position where richer people lived within city walls. There there were cheaper houses outside the walls for poorest folk. Across the ravine at Sant'Agata, but not just there, you have the modern expansion as Italy became safer and prosperous. Ironically the old central part of town isn't so desirable, it's pretty but modern Italians want easy to maintain houses with somewhere to park the car. I visited the old centre a couple of times, atmospheric but a bit faded. Not as manicured as a typical Tuscan town. For family information then often the local church was the best source before Italy became organised. No idea what is a pipemiere. Regards

Hi. A circondario is a suburb, nowadays more likely called a Frazione. - so the outer part of a city. In your case Id say on the outskirts of the comune of Santangelo Lombardi.

A pipemiere seems to have some connection with mining and mines - is that possible in that area?

Modicasa,

Thank you for your kind response.

In response to your question, I would say that mining was a profession in the area. My translation of some of my great grandfather's family Birth Certificates states that they were "scalpellino" which I believe means "Stone Mason".

Cordially,

Albert DiCaprio

Alternatively, he may have worked making pipes (for smoking tobacco) - apparently it was quite an industry at the end of 19th/early 20th Century in Lombardia.

Alan, thank you for helping me in my search. Your responses have been very useful to me. I would ask you, is my "translation" of the

handwriting on the Birth Certificate correct? Is "pipemiere" a real Italian word or is my translation of incorrect?

Cordially,

Albert DiCaprio

According to my online translation

"pipemiere" means "pipe smith" - hence my link to possible tobacco pipe making

"pipe miere" means "mine pipes" - hence possible link to mining.

But - who knows?????

Alan, the town name Sant'Angelo Lombardi is kinda misleading. There is a link to Lombardia but it is in Campania in the province of Avellino. I am pretty sure the name reflects the Lombard presence in times past. Everyone had a go in Campania, the Greeks, the Romans, the Spanish, the Lombards, Goths, etc. The region is littered with lots of medieval mini castles to keep local control. Used to have a place down there but gave it up as too far to regularly drive down, most of on dull motorway. Great food, good value and dramatic scenery.

Alan, the town name Sant'Angelo Lombardi is kinda misleading. It is in Campania in the province of Avellino. I am pretty sure the name reflects the Lombard presence in times past. Everyone had a go in Campania, the Greeks, the Romans, the Spanish, the Lombards, etc. The region is littered with lots of medieval mini castles to keep local control. Used to have a place down there but gave it up as too far regularly to drive. Great food and dramatic scenery.

Digging around, a pipemiere, appears to have been a man who mined piperno ( a type of vulcanic stone very common in Campania. There were 12 mines around Sant'Angelo Lombardi. It would fit in with his contemporaries being scalpellinos in the mines - not a classic stonemason.

scapellino nel miniere

Now that makes sense! What a star. I couldn't find it even in my big Garzanti dictionary. Ogni giorno e un giorno a scuola. Complimenti.

Fantastic. That is exciting to read. I truly appreciate your time and effort finding this information and even better to find a photograph for me. I would never have found those facts on my own. Your knowledge has added much to my search about my family.

Grazie,

Albert DiCaprio